Chapter 10: "An Urgent Matter, Off to Catch an Adulterer"

"Brother, love is something you have to fight for yourself. Be bold and just do it."

As Zhou Yan spoke, he found himself moved by his own words.

Chi Ran raised an eyebrow. "You've been working hard at it for three years now, so how come you haven't managed to win your love yet?"

At the mere mention of this, Zhou Yan looked like a defeated rooster. All his bravado evaporated instantly, and he turned away from Chi Ran, his shoulders slumping in dejection.

Chi Ran patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, love is something you have to fight for yourself. Be bold and just do it."

Zhou Yan: "..."

He turned his head, glared at Chi Ran with indignation, and swatted his hand away.

This guy was doing it on purpose, wasn't he?

He definitely was.

Chi Ran withdrew his hand and shrugged indifferently. "We’re both losers on the road of love; the pot shouldn't call the kettle black."

Zhou Yan wanted to retort, but Chi Ran cut him off with a single sentence.

"Cheng Suqiu is coming back soon. Don't say I didn't warn you."

With that, Chi Ran lazily closed his eyes to rest, leaving Zhou Yan with his eyes wide open.

Cheng Suqiu.

How long had it been since he heard that name?

She had been gone for three years. Now, was she finally willing to return?

The car plunged into the night, carrying the weight of their respective anxieties and sorrows, merging silently into the stillness of the dark, much like the lingering drizzle outside the car window.

***

Early the next morning, Yu Ling headed straight for Spring View Garden.

She had learned from the pop-up comments that Mu Chenbei and Lin Mianmian were currently thick as thieves, their relationship going exceptionally well.

Lin Mianmian had even specifically asked her agent to cancel her schedule for the day, just so she could have a deep "exchange" with Mu Chenbei—a marathon session of three hundred rounds.

Not only that, but the two were also using some kind of stimulant.

Upon learning this, Yu Ling immediately called Chu Ming, and the two drove to Spring View Garden.

"Sis, is there some kind of emergency today?"

Still dazed from just waking up, Chu Ming looked at Yu Ling, who was fully armed and wrapped up so tightly that only her eyes were visible. Her round, almond-shaped eyes were filled with confusion.

She remembered checking the schedule before bed last night; Yu Ling didn't have any activities today, did she?

She opened her phone to check the time: 8:30 AM, Beijing time.

They had finished up last night, arrived home, washed up, and gotten into bed by 4:00 AM, which meant they had only slept for four hours.

The exhausted Chu Ming radiated more resentment than a ghost—enough to nourish at least ten evil immortals.

Yu Ling rummaged through her bag, placed a few gummies in Chu Ming’s palm, and tore one open to pop into her own mouth.

Chewing the candy, she spoke with a slightly muffled voice, "It's an emergency. I'm going to catch an adulterer in the act."

Chu Ming, eyes half-closed, chewed the candy mechanically, nodding her head rhythmically.

After hearing Yu Ling's words, she subconsciously muttered in response, "Oh, catching an adulterer..."

The next second, her eyes snapped open, and she was left speechless with shock.

Catching an adulterer?

Was it the kind of catching an adulterer she was thinking of?

She asked uncertainly, "Sis, what did you just say you were going to do?"

Yu Ling chewed on the candy and unwrapped another one. The rich scent of osmanthus exploded in her mouth, and she happily squinted her eyes into crescents, looking like a little fox that had successfully stolen a piece of meat.

Chu Ming was about to explode with anxiety. Her sleepiness had vanished completely, scared away by Yu Ling.

But Yu Ling, with a mischievous streak, refused to answer, leaving her frantic.

Chu Ming leaned in front of Yu Ling’s face, smiling ingratiatingly. "Sis, what did you say you were going to do?"

Yu Ling pushed her face away with an expressionless look, her small face stern and her tone icy. "I am going to catch an adulterer."

Although the answer was already bubbling in her mind, Chu Ming wanted to hear it directly from Yu Ling.

She grabbed Yu Ling’s arm, pressing most of her body against her intimately, her eyes shining with mischief. "Sis, whose adultery are you catching?"

Yu Ling’s expression remained grave, her tone sharp. She spat out the words without hesitation: "I'm catching Mu Chenbei."

Chu Ming’s eyes brightened further. Her dark pupils darted around as a realization quickly formed in her mind.

Catching an adulterer meant there had to be a man and a woman—the adulterer and the adulteress.

She already knew the man was Mu Chenbei.

So, who was the adulteress?

A secret thrill surged in Chu Ming's heart; she couldn't wait to know who it was.

"Sis, then..."

Without needing to be asked, Yu Ling knew what she wanted to know.

She took the initiative to clear it up for Chu Ming. "Mu Chenbei is cheating. He’s hooked up with Lin Mianmian."

Her tone was flat, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Yet, Chu Ming felt a cold sweat break out on her behalf.

This was unbelievable.

She had seen Yu Ling rush home after work to cook a table full of food, waiting for Mu Chenbei. She had seen Yu Ling endure his petty temper and bad habits because she loved him, willingly revolving her entire world around him—as if she wanted to rip her heart out just to show it to him.

And yet, that heartless, ungrateful Mu Chenbei was cheating, and with Lin Mianmian, who had always bullied Yu Ling.

How could these two be so despicable?

It was a case of one plus one being greater than two; their depravity knew no bounds.

Chu Ming clenched her fists, jumped up abruptly, and cursed, "Those bastards! They are going too far!"

Her emotions were so intense that she forgot she was still in the car.

As she stood up, her head hit the roof of the car with a loud thud.

"Ah—"

Chu Ming clutched her head and cried out in pain.

Yu Ling hurriedly set aside the candy and helped her sit back down.

"Are you okay? Let me see."

Yu Ling quickly pressed her head against her chest and nervously parted her hair to check the damage.

A large bump had formed on the top of Chu Ming’s head.

Yu Ling gently blew on the spot, feeling both annoyed and amused. She suppressed a laugh and chided, "Look at you, always so impulsive. Now you know how much it hurts, right?"

Lying on her lap, Chu Ming grimaced in pain, but she still defended herself stubbornly. "I was just angry! You’re so wonderful, and that deadbeat scumbag Mu Chenbei actually treated you like this."

Yu Ling gently rubbed the swollen spot, a wave of warmth flowing into her heart.

Chu Ming was standing up for her.

It was a wonderful thing to have someone who was willing to believe in her and stand by her side.

Yu Ling curled her lips, her movements as she rubbed Chu Ming’s head becoming even more cautious, for fear of hurting her.

"It's okay, I'm not sad anymore."

After a moment of thought, Yu Ling borrowed a popular saying from the internet: "Trash belongs in the trash can. It’s a good thing to identify the trash early, so I don't get covered in filth when it starts to rot and stink later on."

Chu Ming agreed with her. "Sis, you're right. Trash should stay in the trash can."

She instinctively wanted to nod, but Yu Ling held her down.

She simply closed her eyes and enjoyed Yu Ling’s care.

Yu Ling’s touch was soft and gentle, and as she lay in her arms, the scent of fresh, elegant flowers wafted into her nose.

It was like a begonia in full bloom on a spring day.

In truth, Yu Ling felt that if the pop-up comments hadn't warned her and let her perceive her future tragic fate, she would never have been able to walk away from this relationship so decisively.

Yu Ling was sentimental, but she valued her life even more.

Nothing, no matter how precious or important, was more important than life itself.

Yu Ling had experienced too many days of fear and freezing cold in the past; she only wanted to live a stable, peaceful life.

Breathing the air on a sunny morning, letting the sunlight gently envelop her body—her heart felt incredibly light.